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In the context of hairstyles, the usage of the term pigtail shows considerable variation. According to most dictionaries, a pigtail is a braid of tightly woven hair. The name is based on the short, thin and kinked tail of a pig, referring to the way a short, tight braid may stand out from the scalp through asymmetric tension of the weave. However, the term may also apply to a single braid regardless of length or tension, focusing instead on the knobby texture of the overall structure.

Alternately, the plural term pigtails may be applied to a pair of two braids or ponytails on opposite sides of the head. The latter hairstyle is also known as bunches, especially in British English; the “pigtail” analogy for this usage appears to be based on the upright position of short ponytails when tightly secured against the scalp, or alternately to the vaguely helical shape of curly hair descending from a high ponytail.

The term pigtail appears in English in the American colonies in the 1600s to describe a twist of chewing tobacco. One of the steps in processing the tobacco was to twist a handful of leaves together to form a compact bunch that would then be cured (dried, either with or without smoking). The term “pigtail” was applied to the bunch based on its resemblance to a twisted pig’s tail.

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